# South of France Championships

The South of France Championships its original name or Championnats du Sud de la France also known as the Championships of the South of France and the Championship of Southern France was a tennis event held from 1895 through 1971 it was originally played at the Nice Lawn Tennis Club in Nice, France. It was one of the tournaments of the French Riviera tennis circuit.

## History

Lawn tennis was introduced to French Riviera by English, who decided to holiday on the Cote d'Azur after Queen Victoria vacationed there during the late 1800s. The Riviera season was usually December through to March and a number of events would be staged in Nice the South of France Championships was considered the best of these early continental tournaments other events founded around this time included the Nice Championships, the Nice Lawn Tennis Club Championships and later the Nice International. Nice Lawn Tennis Club was founded in 1890 at Place Mozart. In 1895 the South of France Championships tournament began, the dates the event was held fluctuated between February, March and April annually the club and championships changed location to Parc Imperial Avenue Suzanne Lenglen in 1923. It was one of the earliest events open to international players, the tournament survived for a period of 76 years until 1971.

## Finals

Notes: Challenge Round: The final round of a tournament, in which the winner of a single-elimination phase faces the previous year's champion, who plays only that one match. The challenge round was used in the early history of tennis (from 1877 through 1921) in some tournaments not all. * Indicates challenger

### Men's singles

| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
| 1895 | A. F. Thomas | Victor Voss | ? |
| 1896 | Joseph Hamilton De Robiglio | ? | ? |
| 1897 | Reginald Doherty | Victor Voss | 6–2, 6–4, 3–6, 6–1 |
| 1898 | Laurence Doherty | James Robert Hay-Gordon | 6–1, 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1899 | Reginald Doherty (2) | Victor Voss | 6–0, 6–0, 6–0 |
| 1900 | Laurence Doherty (2) | Reginald Doherty | walkover |
| 1901 | Laurence Doherty (3) | Wilberforce Eaves | 6–2, 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1902 | Laurence Doherty (4) | Reginald Doherty | walkover |
| 1903 | Laurence Doherty (5) | Sydney Howard Smith | 5–7, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3 |
| 1904 | Laurence Doherty (6) | Major Ritchie | 6–2, 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1905 | Laurence Doherty (7) | Edward Roy Allen | 6–3, 7–5, 7–5 |
| 1906 | Laurence Doherty (8) | Anthony Wilding | 6–3, 8–6, 6–2 |
| 1907 | Anthony Wilding | Major Ritchie | 6–0, 6–0, 6–3 |
| 1908 | Anthony Wilding (2) | Major Ritchie | 6–0, 6–1, 6–2 |
| 1909 | Fred Alexander | Major Ritchie | 6–2, 6–1, 6–2 |
| 1910 | Max Decugis | Major Ritchie | 6–2, 6–4, 3–6, 13–11 |
| 1911 | Anthony Wilding (3) | Max Decugis | 9–7, 6–0, 6–3 |
| 1912 | Max Decugis | Maurice Germot | 10–8, 4–6, 6–2 retd. |
| 1913 | Max Decugis (2) | Friedrich Wilhelm Rahe | 7–9, 6–2, 6–3, 1–6, 6–3 |
| 1914 | Anthony Wilding (4) | Gordon Lowe | 6–4, 6–4, 1–6, 6–2 |
| 1915/1918 | Not held (due to world war one) | Not held (due to world war one) | Not held (due to world war one) |
| 1919 | Max Decugis (3) | Nicolae Mișu | 6–3, 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1920 | Mikhail Sumarokov-Elston | Alain Gerbault | 7–5, 6–2, 2–6, 3–6, 6–1 |
| 1921 | Mikhail Sumarokov-Elston (2) | Mino Balbi De Robbeco | 6–1, 6–1, 6–0 |
| 1922 | Mikhail Sumarokov-Elston (3) | Henri Cochet | 6–3, 6–3, 2–6, 7–5 |
| 1923 | Gordon Lowe | Randolph Lycett | 9–7, 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1924 | René Lacoste | Jean Washer | 6–1, 6–0, 3–6, 7–9, 6–3 |
| 1925 | René Lacoste (2) | Gordon Lowe | 6–1, 6–4, 6–3 |
| 1926 | Uberto De Morpurgo | Henri Cochet | 1–6, 6–2, 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1927 | Hermann von Artens | Brame Hillyard | 2–6, 5–7, 6–1, 6–3, 10–8 |
| 1928 | Charles Aeschlimann | George Lyttleton-Rogers | 7–5, 9–7, 6–1 |
| 1929 | Emmanuel du Plaix | Hermann von Artens | 3–6, 6–1, 6–3, 6–0 |
| 1930 | Bill Tilden | George Lyttleton-Rogers | 4–6, 8–6, 6–1, 4–6, 6–0 |
| 1931 | George Lyttleton-Rogers | Christian Boussus | 4–6, 0–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–0 |
| 1932 | Jacques Brugnon | George Lyttleton-Rogers | 6–2, 3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1933 | George Lyttleton-Rogers (2) | Max Ellmer | 6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 4–6, 8–6 |
| 1934 | George Lyttleton-Rogers (3) | Herman von Artens | 2–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1935 | Wilmer Hines | Max Ellmer | 6–2, 3–6, 6–1, 6–4 |
| 1936 | Jean Lesueur | William W. Robertson | 6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3 |
| 1937 | Kho Sin-Kie | Jean Lesueur | 13-11, 6–3, 4–6, 6–3 |
| 1938 | Kho Sin-Kie (2) | Max Ellmer | 6–1, 2–6, 6–0, 8–6 |
| 1939 | Constantin Tănăsescu | Kho Sin-Kie | 2–6, 6–2, 6–3, 6–1 |
| 1940/1943 | Not held (due to world war two) | Not held (due to world war two) | Not held (due to world war two) |
| 1944 | Pierre Pellizza | Henri Pellizza | 6–2, 5–7, 6–3 |
| 1945 | not played | | |
| 1946 | Pierre Pellizza (2) | Yvon Petra | 12-10, 5–7, 6–0, 6–1 |
| 1947 | József Asbóth | Torsten Johansson | 6–2, 6–4, 6–3 |
| 1948 | József Asbóth (2) | Jaroslav Drobný | 8–6, 6–1, 6–3 |
| 1949 | Milan Branović | Dragutin Mitić | 6–4, 6–8, 4–2 ret. |
| 1950 | Budge Patty | Tony Trabert | 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1951 | Sven Davidson | Straight Clark | 6–4, 3–6, 1–6, 7–5, 6–2 |
| 1952 | Owen Williams | Igor Scherbatoff | 6–1, 6–2 |
| 1953 | Armando Vieira | József Asbóth | 6–1, 6–1 |
| 1954 | Tony Vincent | Paul Rémy | 6–3, 6–3, 6–1 |
| 1955 | Władysław Skonecki | Jaroslav Drobný | walkover |
| 1956 | Paul Rémy | Pierre Darmon | 6–2, 6–1, 6–0 |
| 1957 | Jacques Brichant | Bobby Wilson | 9–11, 6–3, 6–2, 7–9, 6–4 |
| 1958 | Not held (due to rain) | Not held (due to rain) | Not held (due to rain) |
| 1959 | István Gulyás | Torben Ulrich | 0–6, 4–6, 9–7 6–4, 3–3 retd. |
| 1960 | Warren Woodcock | Barry Phillips-Moore | 6–3, 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1961 | Pierre Darmon | Warren Woodcock | 6–2, 6–4, 2–6, 6–1 |
| 1962 | Pierre Darmon (2) | Wilhelm Bungert | 6–1, 6–1, 0–6, 6–2 |
| 1963 | Pierre Darmon (3) | István Gulyás | 8–10, 6–3, 6–2, 7–5 |
| 1964 | Sergio Tacchini | Jean-Noël Grinda | 6–4, 4–0 ret. |
| 1965 | István Gulyás (2) | Milan Holeček | 6–1, 6–1, 7–5 |
| 1966 | István Gulyás (3) | Daniel Contet | 6–1, 6–0, 13–11 |
| 1967 | Jean-Pierre Courcol | Eduardo Zuleta | 6–2, 2–6, 2–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1968 | Alex Metreveli | Barry Phillips-Moore | 9–7, 5–7, 6–2, 6–4 |
| ↓ Open era ↓ ||||
| 1969 | Georges Goven | Daniel Contet | 6-3, 6-1, ret. |
| 1970 | Jean-François Caujolle | Jean-Loup Rouyer | 5–7, 6–1, 6–3 |

### Women's singles

| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
| 1899 | Mildred Brooksmith | Marguerite Chalier | 6–3, 6–0 |
| 1900 | Clara von der Schulenburg | | |
| 1901 | Blanche Hillyard | Clara von der Schulenburg | 6–4, 6–3 |
| 1902 | Clara von der Schulenburg (2) | Mildred Brooksmith | 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1903 | Toupie Lowther | Clara von der Schulenburg | 1–6, 6–1, 6–2 |
| 1904 | Clara von der Schulenburg (3) | de Robiglio | 8–6, 7–5 |
| 1905 | Connie Wilson | Clara von der Schulenburg | 6–1, 2–6, 6–4 |
| 1906 | Toupie Lowther (2) | Gladys Eastlake-Smith | 6–4, 5–7, 6–3 |
| 1907 | Gladys Eastlake-Smith | Margit Madarász | 10–8, 6–1 |
| 1908 | Dorothea Lambert Chambers | Rosamund Salusbury | 6–1, 6–1 |
| 1909 | Clara von der Schulenburg (4) | Jessie Tripp | 6–1, 6–8, 6–0 |
| 1910 | Rosamund Salusbury | Clara von der Schulenburg | 6–4, 3–6, 6–3 |
| 1911 | Dagmar von Krohn | Hedwig Neresheimer | 6–2, 2–6, 6–3 |
| 1912 | Jessie Tripp | Margaret Tripp | default |
| 1913 | Dagmar von Krohn (2) | Blanche Colston | 6–3, 6–1 |
| 1914 | Dorothea Lambert Chambers (2) | M Stuart | 6–2, 6–0 |
| 1915/1918 | Not held (due to world war one) | Not held (due to world war one) | Not held (due to world war one) |
| 1919 | Suzanne Lenglen | Doris Wolfson | 6–0, 6–0 |
| 1920 | Geraldine Beamish | Suzanne Lenglen | default |
| 1921 | Suzanne Lenglen (2) | M. Septier | 6–1, 6–1 |
| 1922 | Elizabeth Ryan | Geraldine Beamish | 3–6, 6–3, 6–1 |
| 1923 | Suzanne Lenglen (3) | Elizabeth Ryan | 6–1, 6–0 |
| 1924 | Suzanne Lenglen (4) | Phyllis Covell | 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1925 | Suzanne Lenglen (5) | Ermyntrude Harvey | walkover |
| 1926 | Helen Wills | Isabella Mumford | 6–0, 6–1 |
| 1927 | Lilí Álvarez | Phyllis Satterthwaite | 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1928 | Paula von Reznicek | Cilly Aussem | 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1929 | Paula von Reznicek (2) | Phyllis Covell | 6–8, 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1930 | Cilly Aussem | Carolyn Hirsch | 6–0, 6–2 |
| 1931 | Phyllis Satterthwaite | Paulette Marjollet | 6–1, 6–3 |
| 1932 | Elizabeth Ryan (2) | Phyllis Satterthwaite | 6–3, 1–6, 6–2 |
| 1933 | Sheila Hewitt | Cilly Aussem | 6–4, 6–3 |
| 1934 | Muriel Thomas | Mary Hardwick | 6–1, 6–0 |
| 1935 | Simonne Mathieu | Edith Belliard | 10–12, 7–5, 6–3 |
| 1936 | Simonne Mathieu (2) | Phyllis Satterthwaite | 6–1, 6–0 |
| 1937 | Simonne Mathieu (3) | Anita Lizana | 6–3, 2–6, 7–5 |
| 1938 | Gracyn Wheeler | Gem Hoahing | 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1939 | Simonne Mathieu (4) | Gracyn Wheeler | 6–0, 6–2 |
| 1940/1945 | Not held (due to world war two) | Not held (due to world war two) | Not held (due to world war two) |
| 1946 | Event not held | Event not held | Event not held |
| 1947 | Alice Weiwers | ? | ? |
| 1948 | Annelies Ullstein Bossi | ? | ? |
| 1949 | Myriam De Borman | ? | ? |
| 1950 | Gussie Moran | Josette Amouretti | 6–0, 6–0 |
| 1951 | Doris Hart | Shirley Fry | 4–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1952 | Márta Peterdy | ? | ? |
| 1953 | Joan Curry | Shirley Bloomer | 6–4, 6–1 |
| 1954 | Joan Curry (2) | Christiane Mercelis | 7–5, 6-8, 12–10 |
| 1955 | Anne-Marie Seghers | Joan Curry | 6–1, 6–4 |
| 1956 | Christiane Mercelis | Ingrid Metzner | 6–0, 7–5 |
| 1957 | Christiane Mercelis (2) | Jacqueline Kermina | 4–6, 6–1, 6–1 |
| 1958 | Not held (due to rain) | Not held (due to rain) | Not held (due to rain) |
| 1959 | Yola Ramírez | Paule Courteix | 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1960 | Edda Buding | Renate Ostermann | 4–6, 6–3, 8–6 |
| 1961 | Margaret Smith | Flo de la Courtie | 9–7, 6–4 |
| 1962 | Zsuzsa Körmöczy | Rita Bentley | 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1963 | Jan Lehane | Janine Lieffrig | 7–5, 6–2 |
| 1964 | Almut Sturm | Christiane Mercelis | 0–6, 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1965 | Helga Schultze | Jill Blackman | 7–5, 6–2 |
| 1966 | Sonja Pachta | Jill Blackman | 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1967 | Winnie Shaw | Joan Gibson Cottrill | 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1968 | Gail Sherriff | Robin Blakelock-Lloyd | 9–7, 6–4 |
| ↓ Open era ↓ ||||
| 1969 | Peaches Bartkowicz | Gail Sherriff Chanfreau | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1970 | Helga Niessen | Julie Heldman | 6–1, 6–1 |
| 1971 | Jill Cooper | Marijke Schaar | 6–1, 6–1 |

## Records
### Men's singles

Source: The Tennisbase included
* Most titles: Laurence Doherty, (8)
* Most consecutive titles: Laurence Doherty, (7)
* Most finals: Laurence Doherty, (8)
* Most consecutive finals: Laurence Doherty, (7)
* Most matches played: Pierre Darmon, (39)
* Most matches won: Pierre Darmon, (33)
* Most consecutive match wins: Anthony Wilding, and Laurence Doherty, (19)
* Most editions played: Georges Goven, (12)
* Best match winning %: Laurence Doherty and Reginald Doherty (100%)
* Longest final: Jacques Brichant v Bobby Wilson, result: 9–11, 6–3, 6–2, 7–9, 6–4 (63 games), (1957)
* Shortest final: Armando Vieira v József Asbóth, result: 6–1, 6–1 (14 games) (1953)
* Shortest final: Sergio Tacchini v Jean-Noël Grinda, result: 6–4, 4–0 retired (14 games) (1964)
* Title won with the fewest games lost, Anthony Wilding, (12), (1908)
* Oldest champion: Gordon Lowe, 38y 8m and 23d, (1923)
* Youngest champion: René Lacoste, 19y 8m and 9d, (1924)